Machine for producing filled two-lidded plastic containers with a drinking straw and a puncturable depression in each lower lid

ABSTRACT

Machines for forming identical clusters of identical containers out of a first sheet or web, then filling the containers with a liquid, then forming lids out of a second web and sealing the lids to the containers, and finally trimming the lidded containers from the formed webs and from each other and depositing them into a receptacle such as a carton, are well known in the art.

O i United States Patent [1 1 1111 3,851,441 Marchand Dec. 3, 1974 MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FILLED [56] References Cited TWO-LIDDED PLASTIC CONTAINERS UNITED STATES PATENTS WITH A DRINKING STRAW AND A 2,324,578 7/1943 Hamilton 53/239 PUNCTURABLE DEPRESSION IN EACH 2,406,784 9/1946 Almgren 53/128 LOWER LID 3,221,472 12/1965 Groth et a1. 53/133 X 1 O1 5 X [75] Inventor: Jacques J. Marchand, Montclair, 3'533'2l5 970 her 3/282 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill [73] Assignee: First Dynamics, Inc., New York, Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrank Ledermann [22] Filed: Sept, 25, 1973 ABSTRACT Machines for forming identical clusters of identical [21] Appl' 400,635 containers out of a first sheet or web, then filling the containers with a liquid, then forming lids out of a sec- CL; 0nd web and sealing the lids to the containers, and ti- 53/ 1 53/281 nally trimming the lidded containers from the formed Int. Cl..... B65b 3/ 2, B651) 43/08, 1365b /0 webs and from each other and depositing them into a 1 Field of Search receptacle such as a carton, are well known in the art.

15 Claims, 31 Drawing Figures PATENTtU 3W I 3,851,441

sum mar 12 PATENTED 74 sum 0% 9F 12 PATEMEW 3:914

sum Q5 ar 12 nL I mam \m PATENT'L'UIC 31914 3.851.441

SHEET 07 {1F 12 PATENTEU BEE 3l974 sum as er 1g The instant machine utilizes three plastic webs, first forming the container clusters out of the first web and filling them and forming first lids out of the second web but before sealing the second web to the containers a like cluster of straw-receiving recesses and puncturable depressions'are formed in the first lids. After sealing the formed first lids to the containers, drinking straws are deposited in the said recesses, and then the third web (which is preferably transparent and may have printed matter thereon) is sealed on the first lids. Finally the cluster of finished containers are trimmed as stated above and deposited in a receptacle.

An additional operational step of the instant machine is to provide between the sealing of the first lids and the final trimming step, a readily graspable tongue at one corner of each of the second lids to facilitate tearing back the second lid to expose the straw and the puncturable depression.

Referring briefly to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the instant machine, with parts shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing one of the gang of three straw hoppers and straw placer devices of the machine.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken alongthe line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing a straw driving plate and straw receiver member of one of the straw hoppers of the straw placer assembly; a partial forward movement of the plate being shown in phantom.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, with a straw shown in phantom.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5, with the straw omitted for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 3, with a portion of the hopper in section, showing the straw agitating device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 3.

FIG. II is a view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 3, showing the straw hopper assembly of three units.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the straw receiving conveyor and the straw-insertion press, which are shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

FIG. 12A is a top plan view of the full frame of the straw press unit, with the conveyor and straws shown in phantom.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 12A, showing the bottom platen partly broken away.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. I, with the containers shown in phantom.

FIG. 16 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a view taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view showing a group of containers after the final lid sealing operation, the righthand end showing the scrap produced after container separation.

FIG. 19A is a top plan view of a finished two-lidded container which has been separated from a cluster of filled and sealed containers by the trimming device of the machine.

FIG. 19B is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a die that cuts out triangular corners of the formed first. and second webs which extend beyond the flange portion of one of the flattened corner walls of each container.

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the walkingbeam clarnp device of the machine, the device being shown with the first lid welding device, the punch device, the straw placer and the final lid welding device shown in phantom as are also the rearward position of the clamps.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 21-21 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a view taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 18, showing the entire container support member to permit the containers to be fully sealed when welding takes place.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view taken along the line 23-23 of FIG. 2, partly in phantom.

FIG. 23A is 'a fragmentary enlarged view taken along the line 23A-23A of FIG. 2, showing the thermally formed first lid turn-around device, the thermal forming device being shown in phantom.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the air cylinders of the machine, the air lines being shown in phantom.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a finished filled container ready for the market.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the upper final trimming device cutter for separating a cluster of containers from the formed webs and from each other. I

FIG. 27 is an enlarged view, partly in phantom and partly in section, taken along the line 27-27 of FIG. 2.

The finished doubly lidded clusters of containers are formed out of three plastic webs or sheets 16, 30 and 58, all of which are advanced in a unitary step-by-step movement along the machine frame. That is, they all advance between stops a distance equal to the width of a cluster. The first or bottom web 16 has a cluster of containers (whose walls have flattened corner portions 12a, FIG. 25, and circumferential flanges 14c) thermally formed therein at its first stop. The formed first web then advances to the next stop at which the cluster of containers is filled with a liquid by a device 24 which is common in the art.

Assuming that the machine is in continuous operation, at each stop the second web 30 has a like cluster of first lids 36, with each lid having a straw-receiving recess 54 and a puncturable straw-insertion depression 36a, formed therein prior to passing over the cluster of formed containers. At the next stop of the first web the first lids are sealed on the flanges of the cluster of containers. At the next stop the thus lidded containers or, in other words, the formed first and second webs, are

subjected to a like number of dies 42c, FIG. 198, which cut triangular holes 42d, FIG. 19, in both webs, each such hole extending outward from the outer edge of the flange at the top of one of the flattened corner walls whence said outer edge provides the base of the triangular hole. At the next stop a straw-supplier 44 deposits a bent or two-legged straw into each of a cluster of straw-receiving recesses. At the next stop the third web 58 which may have printed matter thereon, is sealed on the cluster of first lids thus providing second lids 58a, FIGS. 19 and 19a, on the containers. Then, at the next stop a trimming device 62 (which includes a cutter 62a, FIG. 26) at the end of the machine separates the containers of the cluster from each other by cutting through the three webs along all of the outer edges of the flange except the outer edges of the flange portions which form the bases of the triangular holes 42d and through the two other sides of the triangular holes, thus leaving on each container a graspable triangular tongue 42e extending from the second lid.

formed in the web 16 of plastic sheet material taken off of the roll 18 carried on the mandril 20, the thermal forming of containers 14 being common in the art. Each formed container is square in outline but has its four corner walls 12a flattened and lying at an angle of 45 to the planes of the adjacent side walls 14b. The walls of each container have an outwardly extending circumferential flange 14c.

The direction of the advancement of the formed containers I4 is indicated by the arrow 22. A cluster of nine containers I4 is thermally formed by device 12 simultaneously in rows of three, the cluster bein then advanced in machine 10, into position under a liquid filling device 24, this also being common in the art.

The filling device 24 is timed by means of the control box 26, so as to deliver a pre-determined quantity of a beverage or food-stuff into each container 14 of the cluster of nine.

The containers 14 after being filled by the device 24, are advanced to the next stage which is the thermal forming lid producing device 28. Dies thermally form diagonal straw receptive recesses 54 in the lids simultaneously as dies form puncturable depressions 36a therein.

The device 28 is fed with a web 30 of plastic sheet material from the roll 32 carried on the mandril 34. Th lids 36 thus thermally formed in the web 30, are carried on the outer periphery 40 of roller 38 on shaft 39, into the welding device 42 which by heat means, seals the lids 36, one each, to a filled container 14.

The angular position of the straw placer device 44 is such, because the lid recesses 54 are diagonal in the lids 36. The straw placer device 44 is cycled to bend and place straws 48 in three steps of operation, into conveyor plates 52, FIGS. 4 and 5, prior to the next movement of a container cluster in machine 10. In other words, the entire step-by-step movement of the formed webs, each time deposites three straws in the conveyor.

As will be seen in FIG. 1%, the punch die 42b of the punch device 420 has triangular projections 420 which serve to cut out triangular openings 42d, FIG. 19,

through corresponding corner of each of the containers and their respective first lids 36.

The purpose of the cut-out opening 42d is to level the tongue 42e (part of the second or top lid) unsealed, so that it may be grasped to tear the top lid 58 back or entirely off the container.

When the trimming press 62 separates the containers 14 from each other, it cuts along the angular border of tear tongues 42e which is indicated by the cutting line 42f as is seen in FIG. 19.

After the punching operation the containers 14 are advanced to align with the straw placer device 44 and straw conveyor device 46. The straw placer device 44 bends and inserts the straws 48, one each, into the openings 50 of the conveyor plates 52, whereupon the straws 48 are then discharged from the openings 50 of the plates 52, by press 53, into the recesses 54 of the lids 36 welded to the containers l4.

' After the placement of the straws 48 within the lids 36, the containers 14 are advanced to the final lid sealing device 56 which has a transparent web 58 of plastic sheet material fed into device 56 from roll 60 on mandril 61. The web 58 material is welded onto the lids 36, thus sealing the straws 48 in the container 14 assembly.

The containers 14 are then advanced into the trimming device 62 which by heat means, separates the containers for packaging them in cartons. The resulting lattice scrap 64 left, as shown in FIG. 19, is then discarded into a shredder which is not shown.

It shall also be noted that the advancement of the containers 14 in machine 10 is effected by means of the pair of walking-beam clamps 66 which will hereinafter be described.

Referring now particularly to the FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, it will be seen that each hopper 68 of the straw placer 44, consists of a hollow frame 70 supported on a plurality of brackets 72 which are secured thereto by a plurality of suitable fasteners 74. The brackets 72 are also secured to shafts 75 which are held in mounting blocks 76 by means of fasteners 78. A pair of vertical bars 80 are carried in mounting blocks 76 fixedly, so as to support the straw placer device 44 above the horizontal bar members 84 of the support frame 86. The vertical bar members 84 are fixedly secured, each, to a collar 82 carried by frame 86.

Other collars 82, one of which is shown, are carried by frame 86 and are fixedly secured to leg members 88 which serve to support machine 10.

The frames 70 of hoppers 68- are provided with a plurality of windows 90 of transparent material so as to enable the straws 48 within the hoppers 68 to be visible.

The straws 48 are gravity fed out of the throat 92 of the hoppers 68 and an agitator blade 94 serves to prevent jamming of the straws 48 as they enter into the throat 92 portion of the straw placer hoppers 68. The blades 94, one in each of the hoppers 68 assemblies are interconnected by means of shaft 96.

The air cylinder suitably secured to an extension 101 of one mounting block 76, provides the means of pivoting the interconnected agitator blades 94 by the piston rod 98 of cylinder 100, which is pivotably car- 65 ried on arm 104 pinned by pin 102, to bracket 72. In

Beneath the throat portions 92 of hoppers 68, is a straw 48 driving plate 106 which has secured to it, a

pair of parallel spaced apart rails 108 of square crosssectional configuration. The rails 108'are fixedly secured to the top of plate 106 by means of suitable fasteners 110. A third rail 112 is mounted centrally be tween rails 108 by'suitable fasteners 110 and functions with rails 108 to effectively move a single straw 48 at a time, into a straw receiving member 114 which will then place the straw into an appropiate opening 50 of a plate 52 of the conveyor 46 in a manner which hereinafter will be described.

The plates 106 are interconnected, one under each throat 92 portion of the hoppers 68 by a diagonal plate 116 which enables the plates 106 to be oscillated simultaneously by means of air cylinder 118, so as to each place a straw 48 into the three straw receiver members 114. The plate 116 is fixedly secured to the' spaced apart straw driving plates 106 by means of suitable fasteners 110.

The rail 112 of plate 106 is blunt on the forward end 120 so as to engage the corrugated center 49 of a straw 48 without encroaching upon it when urging it into straw receiver member 114.

When plate 106 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 122, the rollers 124 serve as restraining means against the near outer ends 126 of straw 48. The

end 120 of rail 112 forces the center 49 of the straw 48 into the'mouth 128 of straw receiver 114, whereupon the straw 48 is finally urged fully into receiver 114.

The straw receiver 114 serves as forming means for bending the straw 48 received therein. The arcuate surface 130 on the lower and interior portion of the side walls 132 of receiver 114, serve as cupping and retaining means for the straw 48 received so as to render it stationary prior to its-being forced out of receiver 114 into an opening 50 of a plate 52 of conveyor 46. The end wall 134 of receiver 114 serves as stop means for the center 49 of straw 48. The rollers 124 are secured by pins 125 to the rearward edge of each of the throats 92.

When the straw driving plate 106 is pneumatically urged forward, the beveled forward ends 136 of rails 108 tend to lift up the following straw 48 at its outer end 126 as the rail 112 lifts the center 49 of the following straw 48 in the throat 92, so as to keep it out of the way on the driving stroke of the piston rod 119 of air cylinder 118. The rod 119 is fixedly secured to a block 138 by means of fasteners 140. The block 138 is secured fixedly to plate 116 by fasteners 142.

The air cylinder 118 that drives plates 106 is fixedly secured to the mounting plate 139 which is fixedly secured to one of the side walls of a hopper 68. The plates 106 are further supported by means of pin 152 fixedly secured to one side of a hopper 68, the pin 152 being slideably carried within a channel 154 which is fastened by suitable fasteners (not shown) to the interconnecting plate 116.

On the rearward stroke of plate 106, the beveled end 144 of rail 112 serves to eject a straw 48 which may have its center 49 bent downwards and is exposed in the path of travel of the rail 112. When this occurs, the beveledend 144 will strike the center 49 of straw 48 and forcibly eject it out of straw placer device 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 particularly, it will be seen that a shaft 146 is secured fixedly to a depressible bar 148 in the straw receiver member 114, its

use being to forcibly disengage the straw 48, so as to urge the straw 48 down into the opening of plate 52. The bar 148 normally rests in the upper interior of receiver 114 and is provided with a downwardly facing beveled edge 150 which when the straw 48 is being driven into the member 114, will prevent the straw 48 from being driven upwards and away from the receiver member 144.

A coiled spring 156 is carried upon each of the shafts 146 and provides return means for the bar 148 carried within each of the straw receiving members 114. A collar 158 is fixedly secured to each of the shafts 146 by means of a fastener 159, the spring 156 urging at one end against collar 158 and urging at its opposite end against the top of the straw receiver 114. The shafts 146 of straw receivers 1 14, are fixedly secured to a horizontal shaft 160 by means of block members 162 which are spaced apart along the shaft 160. A pair of blocks 164 are fixedly secured to shaft 160 and blocks 164 are slideably carried upon vertical shaft 166 which is held fixedly to a mounting shaft 75. The blocks 162 and 164 are secured to shaft 160 by suitable fasteners (not shown).

A pair of blocks 170 are also secured fixedly by suitable fasteners to shaft 160 and one end of the blocks 170 freely and slideably carrys vertical shaft 172. A

pair of blocks 174 are fixedly secured to the upper shaft and freely and slideably carry vertical shaft 172, so as to enable shaft carrying the straw receivers 114, to beurged downwards by means of air cylinder 176. The air cylinder 176 is fixedly secured to blocks 174 and the piston rod 178 thereof is fixedly carried by plate 180, the opposite end of plate 180 being fixedly secured to shaft 172. When the air cylinder 176 is actuated, it will urge shaft 172 downwards, thus carrying the horizontal shaft 160 downward with the straw carrying receiver members 114. When cylinder 176 fully urges downwards, the edges 178 on the bottom of straw receivers 114 abuts with the top surface of a plate 52,

having the straw 48 in alignment with an opening 50 within plate 52. The full downward stroke of piston rod 1780f air cylinder 176, will thus cause the bar member 148 of shaft 6 on each of the straw receivers 114 to urge the straw 48 out of the straw receiver members 7 114 and into the openings 15 of plates 52 of the straw conveyor 46.

Upon the upward stroke of air cylinder 176, the springs 156 of the shafts 146 of straw receivers 114 will simultaneously urge bar 148 back up into the upper extermity of the straw placer receivers 114, preparatory for a new cycle of straw placing.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 12, 12A, and 13, it will be seen that the straw conveyor 46 extends at right angles across machine 10. The direction of travel of the straw conveyor 46, is indicated bythe arrows 46a and the direction of travel of the containers 14 is indicated by the arrows 14a. Each of the plates 52 which receive a total of three straws 48, one within each of the openings 50, are provided with an extending pin at each end, the pins 182 being carried freely between and through pivotable links 184. The pins 182 are freely and slideably carried within a pair of parallel spaced apart and U-shaped channel members 186 which provide support means for the plates 52 so as to prevent sagging or slack in the area wherein the straw receivers 114 will force a straw 48 into each of the openings 50 of the plates 52. The ends 188 of channels 186 are flared away from each other so as to provide freedom of flow of pins 182 as they enter into the channels 186. The channels 186 are fixedly secured to a plurality of support braces 190, the opposite ends of braces 190 being secured fixedly to the conveyor support frame 192. Support braces 190 are secured by welding or other suitable means to channels 186 and the frame 192 at each side. The bars 194 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to leg members 196, one of which is shown in FIG. 13. Mounting blocks 198 are secured to the leg members 196 fixedly.

Conveyor 46 is supported upon a pair of shafts 200 and 202, the ends of which are journaled within bearings 208. The bearings 208 extend off of the blocks 198 which are secured to legs 196. The pins 182 of plates 52 of conveyor 46 are carried within the openings 206 of the corners of hexagonal sprockets 204. An air cylinder 210 is carried by conveyor 46 so as to rotate the shaft 202 a pre-determined distance so as to enable the sprocket 204 of shaft 202 to advance three of the plates 52 to a precise position beneath the press 53.

The press frame 212 is shown to consist of three parallel spaced apart bars 214 which are secured fixedly to parallel cross bars 216 by suitable fasteners 218. Fixedly secured to the undersides of bars 214, are bars 220 which are rounded upon their ends so as to freely fit into the openings 54 of the lids 36 of containers 24. The press bars 220 are secured to bars 214, by means of suitable fasteners 222. Mounting blocks 224 provide support means upon the support frame bars 84 and a pair of posts 226 are secured to the upper mounting blocks 224 by suitable fasteners 227. The posts 226 are parallel spaced apart on one side of the press frame 212 and a pair of spaced apart posts 2270 are fixedly secured to the upper mounting blocks 224 so as to support the opposite side of frame 212. A lever 228 is pivotably secured to each of the posts 226 by means of pins 232. A pair of levers 230 on the opposite end of frame 212, are pivotably carried upon a pin 232 of posts 227a. A pair of parallel spaced rods 234 are pivotally carried, one on each side of frame 212, within the levers 228 and 230, causing the levers 228 and 230 to move simultaneously. A rod 236 is pivotably carried within levers 228 and 230 each of the rods 236 being secured fixedly within the cross-bars 216. A rod 238 is pivotably carried by levers 228 and 230 and the opposite ends thereof are secured fixedly within the side ends of a rectangular configurated platen 240 which is coated with a silicon coating 242 so as to enable the containers to be friction free on top of the platen 240. An air cylinder 244 is sured fixedly to plate 246 mounted to mounting blocks 224 upon the frame bar 84 at one side of press 53. The piston rod 248 of air cylinder 244 is pivotably connected to the outer end of one of the levers 230, the pivoting action of the levers 228 and 230 when cylinder 244 is actuated, serves to simultaneously urge the platen 240 upwards against the bottom of the containers 24 while the frame 212 is urged downwards so as to enable the plurality of press bars 220 to urge the straws 48, out. of the openings 50 of plates 52, into the openings 54 within the lids 36 of containers 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 23a, it will be seen that roll 32 carrying the web 30, is supported upon a pair of spaced apart frames, 250, one of which is shown: A removable mandril 34 is carried in the center of roll 32, the mandril being supported by the support frames 250.

Support frames 250 are secured to a pair of parallel spaced apart bar members 252 which are parallel spaced above the frame bars 84 of machine 10. The frames 250 are secured to the bars 252 by means of mounting blocks 251 which are held secure to bars 252 by means of suitable fasteners 250a. Roll 32 is part of the turn-around portion of machine 10. The web 30 passes through the lid forming thermal device 28, the formed lids 36 in the web 30 pass under rollers 260, one of which is shown, which serves to keep the web 30 aligned when passing onto the periphery 40 of roller 38 supported upon shaft 39 within a pair of spaced apart support frames 264. After passing under rollers 260 the lid 36 formed web 30 passes under hold-down rails 262.

The rollers 360 and hold-down rails 262 are secured fixedly to arms 262a which are fastened at one end fixedly to the side walls of the thermal forming device 28 by means of fasteners 262b. The support frames 264 are mounted fixedly to bars 84 of the machine support frame in a suitable manner not shown.

The roller 32 carrying web 30 is held down in support frames 250 within the opening 258 by a latch 256 on cover plate 254 which is hingedly secured to one of the support frames 250.

The lids 36 are carried through the welding device 42 whereupon they are welded to the tops of the containers 14 prior to the containers being passed into the straw placer device 44.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18, and 22, the outer seal press 56 which is a welding device, is shown to include a rectangular base member 266 which is secured by mounting blocks 268 to bars 84 of machine 10. Mounting blocks 268 are held in position fixedly to bars 84 by means of suitable fasteners 270. An air cylinder 272 is pivotably secured by pin 274 to block 275 which is fastened to base member 266. The piston rod 276 of air cylinder 272 is pivotably connected to lever 280 by means of bar 278. A pair of rods 282 one on each side of press 56 are fixedly secured in a suitable manner to the base member 266, the opposite end being carried at the pivot pin 284 of lever 280. A pair of rods 286 are one each secured by pin means 288 on either side of press 56, the upper end being pivotably secured to extending pins 290, one on either side of bar 300 which is fixedly secured to member 302. The bar member 300 is secured to a rectangular member 304 which is secured fixedly in a suitable manner to a bottom member 306 having a hard rubber face 308 which serves as platen means against the outer web 58 which forms the final sealing of containers 14. Heat is applied to welding press 56 through the fittings 311 secured to members 310 secured on top of member 304. A central lever 312 is secured within a lug 314 welded or otherwise suitably secured to bar 278. The opposite end of lever 312 is secured within a lug 316 by means of a pivot pin 318, the lug 316 being secured to the underside center of a separator 320. The separator 320 is provided with inter-connected walls 322 and 324, the upper edges 325 serving to abut with the area 328 which comprises the flange between the containers 14 so as to provide maximum contact for effective sealing of containers 14.

When press 56 is actuated by means of air cylinder 272, the piston rod 276 rotates lever 280 which causes member 302 to be urged downwards againt the top of the web 58 and causes lever 312 to urge the separator 320 upwards, thus forming firm contact for an effective sealing weld, to take place between the transparent web 58 and the previously welded lids 36 formed within web 30.

It shall be noted that the outer press seal device 56 provides for the final sealing of containers 14.

Looking now at FIG. 23 of the drawings, it will be seen that the support frame 330 is secured by mounting blocks 332 to the frame bars 252 carried above bars 84 of machine 10. The mounting blocks 332 are secured by means of fasteners 333. A pair of openings one of which is shown at 334 in the upper extremity of frame 330 receives the mandril 61 carrying the roll 60 containing the transparent web 58 for the final sealing of containers 14.A latch plate 336 is hingedly secured to one side of frame 330 and is provided with a latch 338 for rendering plate 336 secure after roll 60 has been placed into position within the openings 334. A pair of extension members 340 of frame 330 extends outwards for a purpose which hereinafter will be described. A pair of arms 342 are welded or otherwise secured to frame 330 and extend angularly downwards and parallel to each other and serve to carry rollers 344 which extends partially into the loop 345 of web 58, the rollers 344 serve to limit the upward travel of loop 345 of web 58. The web 58 of roll 60 extends over a roller 346 secured between the extensions 340 and the web 58 is carried under the rollers 344 and then passes over a roller 348 spaced apart from roller 346. The web 58 travels also over a roller 354.-An air cylinder 350 is fixedly secured in a suitable manner to the top of the extension 340 of frame 330 and the piston rod 352 thereof, is provided with a bar 353 which when air cylinder 350 is actuated will push the loop 345 of web 58 downwards, thus causing a pre-determined amount of the preprinted web 58 to be advanced off of roll 60, so as to be fed into the seal press 56. The web 58 is carried downwards under roller 356 which is secured between mounting blocks 357 which are secured to bars 252 by means of fasteners 357a. The web 58 passes over a pair of spaced apart rollers 358and 360 which are carried in mounting blocks 361 secure to bars 252 by means of fasteners 361a. The web 58 is then carried under roller 362 secured within brackets 364 secured to bars 84 by means of fasteners 366. The web 58 is carried through the seal press 56 on top of the containers 14. The bars 252 which supports the roll 60 assembly are parallel spaced above the lower bars 84 of apparatus 10. Support bars 368 one of which is shown, are secured at each end by mounting blocks 370 and fasteners 372 to the upper bars 252 and the lower. bars 84.

Referring now again to frame 330, it will be seen that a pair of off set arms 374 are welded to extension 340 for supporting a mandril 376 by means of the openings 378. The purpose of arms 374 is to support a spare roll 60a containing transparent web 58.

Looking now more particularly to FIGS. 20 and 21, it will be seen how the walking-beam clamp 66 is used to advance containers 14, the web 30, and the final sealing web 58. A pair of parallel spaced apart and elongated beams 380 which are interconnected at one end, are slideably carried within a channel support 382 which is welded or otherwise secured to one of the mounting blocks 384 secured to rods 84 of apparatus 10 by means of fasteners 386. A plurality of spaced apart sleeve members 388 are fixedly secured to beams 380 on both sides of apparatus 10 and the sleeves 388 are fixedly secured to an air cylinder'390 each of which provides means for gripping the side edges of containers 14, the side edges of the lid 36 formed web 30 and the side edges of the transparent web 58. The gripping heretofore mentioned, for transporting the formed webs is accomplished by means of the piston rods392, one within each of the air cylinders 390.

As will be more readily seen in FIG. 21 of the drawings, the flanges 394 of the container 14, the web 30, and the web 58 are received and continuously are carried within the openings 396 of the sleeve 388 of air cylinder 390. The piston rods 392 of air cylinders 390 when actuated by air means, will force against the lips 398 of guide walls 400, thus grippingly engaging the side flanges 394 so as to enable the containers 14, the webs 30 and 58, to advance forward in the machine 10 by means of air cylinder 404 which has its piston rod 406 secured fixedly to the beam 380.

As will be readily seen, in FIG. 21 of the drawings, the end wall 388a of sleeves 388 provides for abuttment with the top surfaces of the material to be advanced in apparatus 10.

The guide walls 400 are secured fixedly, one on each side of apparatus 10, by means of fasteners 402 which are secured within the mounting blocks 384.

When the air pressure is released from the cylinders 390 and the beam driving cylinder 404, the piston rods 392 will move downwards away from the lips 398 of guide walls 400, thus releasing all pressure from the flanges 394 of the heretofore described materials within openings 396 of sleeves 388.

It shall be noted that. when operating, machine 10 is cycled to actuate all of the air cylinders 390 and the air cylinder 404 simultaneously.

Referring now to FIG. 24, the control box 408 is connected to the air compressor 410 by means of air line 412. The The air cylinder 42a of the punch-die 42b, the air cylinders 100, 118, 272, 350, 388, 404, 224, 429 and 210 are connected by air line 414 means to control box 408 which controls the cycling of the punch die 42b, the straw placer device 44, the conveyor 46, the feed of the web 58, the seal press 56 and the walking beam clamps 66.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a machine including an elongated frame having the top thereof lying in a substantially horizontal plane and having upstream and downstream ends, means mounting a first roll of a first plastic web, means mounting a second roll of a second plastic web, and means mounting a third roll of a third plastic web, said first roll being mounted adjacent the upstream end of said frame, said second roll being mounted above said plane, means for moving said first web step-by-step along the top of said frame toward the downstream end thereof, a first thermal forming means for forming said first web into successive clusters of downwardly extending containers open at the top and rectangular in outline during the intervals between the step-by-step movements of said first web, liquid filling means mounted above said frame downstream of said first forming means for successively filling the formed clusters of containers during said intervals, a roller rn ountgd abgye said plane downstream of said filling means between said filling means and saidsecond roll and having its peripheral edge close to said plane, said in contact with said formed first web, means for moving said second web downstream from said roller in harmony with said step-by-step movements of said first web, a second thermal forming means mounted between said second roll and said roller for forming said second web into like clusters of first container lids including a straw-receiving recess in each of said lids, a first sealing means mounted downstream of said roller for sealing said first lids to said filled containers, strawsupplying means mounted downstream of said first sealing means for depositing a straw into each of said recesses of the clusters of first lids during said intervals, said third roll being mounted downstream of said strawsupplying means, means for moving said third web downstream in harmony with said step-by-step movements, a second sealing means mounted on said frame downstream of said straw-supplying means and having said third web extending downstream thereunder for sealing the same on said first lids thereby providing second lids, and trimming means mounted downstream of said second sealing means for simultaneously separating the clusters of two-lidded containers from said three webs and from each other during said intervals, said separated clusters then being discharged into a suitable receptacle.

2. A combination according to claim I, said third web being transparent.

3. A combination according to claim 1, all of said clusters being rectangular in outline.

4. A combination according to claim 1, said strawsupplying means including means for bending straightline straws into two-legged straws prior to depositing them in said recesses.

5. A combination according to claim 1, said second thermal means including means for forming in each of said clusters of first lids a puncturable depression spaced from said straw-receiving recess to permit insertion of a straw into the container.

6. A combination according to claim 1, all of said first, second and third webs having substantially the same width.

7. A combination according to claim 1, the distance between said step-by-step movements being equal to the width of said clusters measured longitudinally along said frame.

8. A combination according to claim 5, the strawreceiving recesses in said first lids extending diagonally between opposed corner portions thereof.

9. A combination according to claim 5, the walls of said formed containers having outwardly extending circumferential flanges to which said formed first lids are sealed.

l0. A combination according to claim 9, said containers being substantially square in outline and having the four corner portions thereof flattened with said flattened portions lying in planes at 45 angles to the planes of the mutually adjacent side walls of the containers, said machine including forming means positioned between said first sealing means and said strawsupplying means for cutting a hole triangular in outline through each of those portions of said formed first and second webs which extend outward from one of those portions of said flanges on said flattened walls with the outer edges of said last-named portions forming the bases of said triangular outline.

11. A combination according to claim 10, said trimming means including means for cutting through said formed first and second webs along the outer edges of said flanges except for said bases of said triangular holes and cutting said third web along the two other sides of said triangular holes whence corresponding corner portions of said third web extend beyond said flanges and thus provide graspable tongues.

12. A combination according to claim 11, each of triangular holes being positioned adjacent one end of each of said straw-receiving recesses.

13. A combination according to claim 9, said strawsupplying means including hoppers equal in number to the number of containers forming the base of each of said clusters, said hoppers containing straight-line straws and having outlets dimensioned to permit the straws to exit one at a time, a horizontal plate slidably mounted closely under said hopper outlets and having a row of elongated openings therethrough positioned complementarily to a row of straw-receiving recesses in a base of a cluster of container first lids, means for moving said plate back and forth under said hoppers, means mounted between said hopper outlets and said horizontal plate for bending said straws into two-legged straws after exit thereof from said hoppers, means for depositing said bent straws into said elongated openings where they are having its upper belt portion positioned closely under said first plate and frictionally held, a horizontal conveyor formed of a series of mutually adjacent pivoted panels each having elongated openings therethrough complementary to said elongated openings in said first plate, means for forcing said bent straw downwards into said last-named elongated openings into said straw-receiving recesses, the upper horizontal protion of said conveyor extending over and close to said formed first web.

14. A combination according to claim 13, said hopper outlets lying in planes at forty-five degree angles to the direction of travel of said webs, said first-named plate being moveable in said 45 direction, said conveyor being positioned at right angles to said direction of travel of said webs.

15. A combination according to claim 14, said hopper outlets being three in number and mutually parallel, said cluster being square in outline and dimensioned to contain nine containers, said elongated openings in said plate owing to the said angle at which said hopper outlets lie, having a plurality of equidistantly spaced diagonal rows of elongated openings therein successively positionable complementary to said outlets, said means for moving said plate forward and backward under said outlets, moving through three successive steps during the stopping of each movement of said web thereby receiving three succesive diagonal rows of straws in the elongated openings therein, said means for moving said upper conveyor portion of said conveyor forward moving said conveyor portion through three successive panels coincident with the forward movements of said plate, said three successive step movements of said plate and said conveyor occurring while said webs are moving between their stop intervals, said means for forcing said straws into said recesses functioning after said conveyor and said plate are at rest. 

1. In combination, a machine including an elongated frame having the top thereof lying in a substantially horizontal plane and having upstream and downstream ends, means mounting a first roll of a first plastic web, means mounting a second roll of a second plastic web, and means mounting a third roll of a third plastic web, said first roll being mounted adjacent the upstream end of said frame, said second roll being mounted above said plane, means for moving said first web step-by-step along the top of said frame toward the downstream end thereof, a first thermal forming means for forming said first web into successive clusters of downwardly extending containers open at the top and rectangular in outline during the intervals between the step-bystep movements of said first web, liquid filling means mounted above said frame downstream of said first forming means for successively filling the formed clusters of containers during said intervals, a roller mounted above said plane to downstream of said filling means between said filling means and said second roll and having its peripheral edge close to said plane, said second web passing around said roller and extending from the bottom of said roller downstream substantially in contact with said formed first web, means for moving said second web downstream from said roller in harmony with said step-by-step movements of said first web, a second thermal forming means mounted between said second roll and said roller for forming said second web into like clusters of first container lids including a straw-receiving recess in each of said lids, a first sealing means mounted downstream of said roller for sealing said first lids to said filled containers, straw-supplying means mounted downstream of said first sealing means for depositing a straw into each of said recesses of the clusters of first lids during said intervals, said third roll being mounted downstream of said straw-supplying means, means for moving said third web downstream in harmony with said step-by-step movements, a second sealing means mounted on said frame downstReam of said straw-supplying means and having said third web extending downstream thereunder for sealing the same on said first lids thereby providing second lids, and trimming means mounted downstream of said second sealing means for simultaneously separating the clusters of twolidded containers from said three webs and from each other during said intervals, said separated clusters then being discharged into a suitable receptacle.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, said third web being transparent.
 3. A combination according to claim 1, all of said clusters being rectangular in outline.
 4. A combination according to claim 1, said straw-supplying means including means for bending straight-line straws into two-legged straws prior to depositing them in said recesses.
 5. A combination according to claim 1, said second thermal means including means for forming in each of said clusters of first lids a puncturable depression spaced from said straw-receiving recess to permit insertion of a straw into the container.
 6. A combination according to claim 1, all of said first, second and third webs having substantially the same width.
 7. A combination according to claim 1, the distance between said step-by-step movements being equal to the width of said clusters measured longitudinally along said frame.
 8. A combination according to claim 5, the straw-receiving recesses in said first lids extending diagonally between opposed corner portions thereof.
 9. A combination according to claim 5, the walls of said formed containers having outwardly extending circumferential flanges to which said formed first lids are sealed.
 10. A combination according to claim 9, said containers being substantially square in outline and having the four corner portions thereof flattened with said flattened portions lying in planes at 45* angles to the planes of the mutually adjacent side walls of the containers, said machine including forming means positioned between said first sealing means and said straw-supplying means for cutting a hole triangular in outline through each of those portions of said formed first and second webs which extend outward from one of those portions of said flanges on said flattened walls with the outer edges of said last-named portions forming the bases of said triangular outline.
 11. A combination according to claim 10, said trimming means including means for cutting through said formed first and second webs along the outer edges of said flanges except for said bases of said triangular holes and cutting said third web along the two other sides of said triangular holes whence corresponding corner portions of said third web extend beyond said flanges and thus provide graspable tongues.
 12. A combination according to claim 11, each of triangular holes being positioned adjacent one end of each of said straw-receiving recesses.
 13. A combination according to claim 9, said straw-supplying means including hoppers equal in number to the number of containers forming the base of each of said clusters, said hoppers containing straight-line straws and having outlets dimensioned to permit the straws to exit one at a time, a horizontal plate slidably mounted closely under said hopper outlets and having a row of elongated openings therethrough positioned complementarily to a row of straw-receiving recesses in a base of a cluster of container first lids, means for moving said plate back and forth under said hoppers, means mounted between said hopper outlets and said horizontal plate for bending said straws into two-legged straws after exit thereof from said hoppers, means for depositing said bent straws into said elongated openings where they are having its upper belt portion positioned closely under said first plate and frictionally held, a horizontal conveyor formed of a series of mutually adjacent pivoted panels each having elongated openings therethrough complementary to said elongated openings in said first plate, means for forcing said bent straw doWnwards into said last-named elongated openings into said straw-receiving recesses, the upper horizontal protion of said conveyor extending over and close to said formed first web.
 14. A combination according to claim 13, said hopper outlets lying in planes at forty-five degree angles to the direction of travel of said webs, said first-named plate being moveable in said 45* direction, said conveyor being positioned at right angles to said direction of travel of said webs.
 15. A combination according to claim 14, said hopper outlets being three in number and mutually parallel, said cluster being square in outline and dimensioned to contain nine containers, said elongated openings in said plate owing to the said angle at which said hopper outlets lie, having a plurality of equidistantly spaced diagonal rows of elongated openings therein successively positionable complementary to said outlets, said means for moving said plate forward and backward under said outlets, moving through three successive steps during the stopping of each movement of said web thereby receiving three succesive diagonal rows of straws in the elongated openings therein, said means for moving said upper conveyor portion of said conveyor forward moving said conveyor portion through three successive panels coincident with the forward movements of said plate, said three successive step movements of said plate and said conveyor occurring while said webs are moving between their stop intervals, said means for forcing said straws into said recesses functioning after said conveyor and said plate are at rest. 